Page 43 of The Lake House

“I guess I’ll keep you and Lily company; I’ll come out, too.”

And right before Charlie and I can head out the door, Mom pushes Cheryl back out of the kitchen as she walks out with an empty carton of eggs and an empty container of Parmesan cheese.

“I can’t make meatballs without eggs and cheese. Can someone run to Abner’s?”

Abner’s Convenience Store.

Giuliana Bianchi.

I wonder if she’s there…

“I’ll go!” I shout before anyone else has the chance to take this opportunity from me. Maybe if she’s there, I’ll see her.

Her beautiful face is all that’s been on my mind since she waltzed back into town.

Cheryl raises an eyebrow. “Someone’s eager to go into town…”

I give her a smirk and grab the carton of eggs and container of cheese out of my mother’s hands. “I can’t cook as well as you and Ma. I’m just trying to help where I can.”

So not a total lie. I know how to make a few dishes to get Lily and myself by. But of course the women in my family can cook ten times better than me.

“Uh-huh…” Cheryl says, obviously not buying it.

“Oh, Cher, leave your brother alone,” Mom reprimands lightly. She’s never been one to revile.

Cherry shrugs. “Sorry, but I really don’t think Mr. and Mrs. Abner are going to want their empty containers back….”

Mom and Charlie chuckle at my sister’s comment.

I pretend it doesn’t bother me. I mean, it doesn’t really, but I hate that she’s bringing the attention to me and her insinuating I have an ulterior motive for going to the store. Even if I sort of do…

“I was just grabbing these out of Mom’s hands to trash them on my way out. That’s all.” I say, edging toward the front door.

And right before I can make my way out, I hear my sister snickering. “Uh-huh!”

* * *

Disappointment washes over me when I realize Giules is not working today. I was really hoping I’d get the chance to see her and talk to her again, but she’s not here.

Once I accept the fact that I’m more than likely not going to see her pretty face, I make my way through the store quickly and then head for the register. There’s only one person in front of me, and after he grabs his groceries and receipt from Anna Abner’s hand, she greets me with a smile.

“Declan! How are you doing today?” She scans the cheese, eggs, and surprise candy I picked up for Lily.

I smile back. “Hey, Mrs. Abner, how’s it going?”

“Fine, fine. How’s that precious little girl of yours?”

Still smiling, I respond. “She’s great, just graduated pre-k… can you believe that?”

Her eyes widen. “Well, no, I certainly cannot! Now, you bring her over so I can give her a little something for graduating.”

“You don’t have to–”

“Oh, yes, I do,” she answers, abruptly cutting me off. To think that I would even try to tell her not to get Lily a gift is a sin.

I chuckle to myself. “Alright, Mrs. Abner. You win. I’ll bring Lily by sometime next week if that’s okay?”

She smiles widely. “That’s perfect.” She pauses for a moment and then tallies everything up. “That’ll be seven dollars and thirty-eight cents.”

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